D.R. Horton
The nation's largest homebuilder by closings — and the entry-level value leader in the western suburbs
D.R. Horton is the largest homebuilder in the United States by number of homes closed, and their Chicago-area division focuses on the entry-level and first move-up segments. If you're looking for the most affordable new construction in the western suburbs, D.R. Horton is almost always in the conversation. They build quickly, price competitively, and offer a wide selection of quick move-in homes.
Brand lines & design studio
D.R. Horton builds under multiple brand tiers to serve different price points and buyer profiles. Understanding which tier applies to the community you're considering is essential before you start comparing homes.
- ›Express Homes — most affordable, streamlined selections
- ›D.R. Horton core — standard line active in western suburbs
- ›Emerald Homes — elevated finishes and larger floor plans
D.R. Horton's Express and Emerald lines
D.R. Horton builds under multiple brand tiers. Their Express Homes line targets the most affordable price points with a streamlined selection process and limited customization. Their core D.R. Horton line offers more options. In the western suburbs, most communities are the core line. The design studio experience is more limited than Pulte or Toll Brothers — expect a smaller selection of finishes and fewer structural options.
Pros & cons
✓Strengths
- Most affordable new construction price points in the western suburbs
- Large inventory of quick move-in homes — good for buyers with tight timelines
- DHI Mortgage for competitive financing and closing cost assistance
- Straightforward buying process — less complex than higher-end builders
!Watch-outs
- Build quality is the most variable of the four major builders
- Limited design customization — fewer finish options than Pulte or Toll Brothers
- Warranty service can be slow — document everything in writing
- High production volume means less individual attention per home
- Resale appreciation can lag compared to Pulte or Toll Brothers communities
- The Grasslands (Bartlett) is a duplex community — buyers share a wall; confirm this product type fits your goals before touring
Warranty coverage
Sergio's warranty perspective
D.R. Horton's warranty terms match the industry standard, but their service execution is the weakest of the four builders I cover. Document every warranty request in writing, follow up in writing, and don't let items slide past the 1-year window. An independent 11-month inspection is especially important with D.R. Horton.
D.R. Horton incentives in Bartlett and South Elgin
D.R. Horton competes primarily on price — their incentive strategy is to offer the lowest base price in a market and then layer in lender-tied closing cost assistance. In Bartlett and South Elgin, where they are often the most affordable new construction option, their incentives can make a meaningful difference for first-time buyers.
- Closing cost assistance of $5,000–$10,000 when using DHI Mortgage — at D.R. Horton's price points this can represent 1.5–2.5% of the purchase price, which is significant
- Rate buydown programs through DHI Mortgage — D.R. Horton has been aggressive with temporary buydowns in the Bartlett and South Elgin markets where they compete with resale inventory
- Quick move-in (QMI) discounts — D.R. Horton builds spec homes faster than most builders and often has finished inventory available; QMI discounts of $10,000–$20,000 are common on homes that have been sitting 60+ days
- Appliance package upgrades on select homes — stainless steel appliance packages (refrigerator, washer/dryer) are sometimes included on QMI homes or offered as a closing incentive
- Express Homes pricing — D.R. Horton's Express line in Bartlett and South Elgin is priced $20,000–$40,000 below their core line with fewer structural options but the same DHI Mortgage incentive programs
- End-of-quarter push pricing — D.R. Horton is publicly traded and their sales teams have quarterly closing targets; the last two weeks of March, June, September, and December are when their most aggressive pricing appears
How to negotiate — Sergio's playbook
D.R. Horton's sales agents have less individual pricing authority than Pulte or M/I — most incentives are set at the division level. The most effective approach: (1) Focus on QMI homes where the division has the most motivation to move inventory. (2) Ask about the Express line if you are price-sensitive — the quality gap between Express and core is real but manageable if you go in with eyes open. (3) Come at quarter-end. (4) Always get a DHI Mortgage quote AND an outside lender quote — DHI's rates are not always competitive even with the closing cost credit.
D.R. Horton's incentives are heavily tied to DHI Mortgage. The closing cost assistance can be meaningful at this price point — but compare DHI's rate to outside lenders before committing. I have seen buyers accept $7,500 in closing cost assistance while paying a rate 0.375% higher than the market — over 30 years that costs far more than the credit. Do the math on total cost of ownership, not just the upfront credit.
Floor plan library
Representative floor plans available in D.R. Horton's western suburbs communities. Availability varies by community — contact Sergio for current options.
Cali
Best value entry point in the western suburbs
Galen
Open kitchen-living layout, covered patio
Hartford
Flex room, 2-story foyer
Rowan
Attached garage, low HOA
* Floor plans and pricing subject to change. Not all plans available in all communities. Contact Sergio for current availability.
Commute & lifestyle
How D.R. Horton communities connect to Chicago and the western suburbs lifestyle.
Metra access
50–65 min by Metra
Average to Chicago Loop
Highway access
D.R. Horton communities in Bartlett, South Elgin, and St. Charles are suburban and car-dependent for most errands. All are within 10 min of major retail corridors on IL-59, IL-64, and US-20.
Nearby stations
Bike infrastructure
Fox River Trail accessible from St. Charles communities; Prairie Path accessible from Bartlett area
Sergio's honest assessment
D.R. Horton is the right choice for buyers who need to maximize square footage and features per dollar, and who are willing to be more hands-on during the build and warranty process. I've seen excellent D.R. Horton homes — and I've seen ones that needed significant warranty work. The difference is usually how closely the buyer stayed engaged during construction. If you go with D.R. Horton, hire an independent inspector for the pre-drywall walk and the 11-month warranty inspection. Don't skip either one.
SergioSergio Sells Chicagoland
Video tour
D.R. Horton — builder overview & community tour
Watch Sergio's walkthrough of D.R. Horton communities in Chicago's western suburbs.
Video coming soon
A YouTube or Vimeo tour will appear here once added.
Considering a D.R. Horton home? Let's talk first.
Get in touch with Sergio